War in Iraq, updates/stories Options

[impala454]

if the mil did something like, 2 deployments, then bam, re-up with a decent bonus (like 20 g's or so), and your choice of noncombat duty for a couple years, like instructor at a school you've attended, that would be a rad start and help immensely.

maybe this was an isolated case, but this is how it's actually working with my bro-in-law. he's a cap'n in field artillery and did a year in korea, then came home long enough to pop out a kid w/my sister, now he's in iraq until november, but after that (~2 years of deployment) they're giving him the option to go get a masters, then teach at west point for a couple years.

[cupcake]

key word...captain.

officers aren't grunts. they have a totally different pipeline.

strategic leaders focus on that...strategy.

tactical leaders, Cpls and above (enlisted)...rarely get a break.

I'm not complaining. I understand officers and their jobs. I am the son and grandson of a field grade officers. I'm just pointing out that the door kickers don't have such a cush life.

[Mommy]

I think about this war a lot and how sad it is for the guys fighting over there. A lot of them still dont know why they were sent there. When young men and women join the military, they expect that if their life will be endangered that it will be for the safety of our country's well-being. Now, they are putting their lives at risk to protect the same people that are out to hurt them. RIDICULOUS

[GOB]

I think about this war a lot and how sad it is for the guys fighting over there. A lot of them still dont know why they were sent there. When young men and women join the military, they expect that if their life will be endangered that it will be for the safety of our country's well-being. Now, they are putting their lives at risk to protect the same people that are out to hurt them. RIDICULOUS

what i think is awesome is how we have reservists fighting in iraq, yet there are still full-time military personnel doing nothing in germany/japan/uk/guam/hawaii/etc...

granted, they knew what they were getting into when they signed up, but give me a fucking break-- send the real soldiers into battle and let the weekend-warriors take their place on a military base.

[Mommy]

I think its bullshit that some guys are coming up on their 3rd tour in Iraq. I also think its bullshit that even if you retire from the military, you can still be called up. Additionally, I used to think that I wanted to sign up for 4 years in the military to pay for school. HELL NO....the military can extend your duty without asking. In fact, many that are about to embark on their 3rd tour should have been out of the military already

[FORSAKENR320]

reminds me, i think my friend the army paratrooper just finished his 4 yr term, or is about to.... dunno if he is reenlisting or not

[cupcake]

I don't how the reserves work, but the thing they kinda leave out when you enlist for 4 years, or even extend to say 5, is that you have an 8-yr total commitment.

so you serve 4 active, and then EAS (end of active service), at which point you are assigned to a unit in the IRR (inactive ready reserve) for an additional 4 years. serve 6 years, commit 2 more to IRR...etc.

so they can call you up if they need you. before the iraq war, however, it was VERY uncommon to activate an inactive person though.

the only time I dealt with it was while I was at tech. I got a letter stating I had to be in amarillo for some kind of service records update hooyah on a certain date. They said they would pay me my time and grade (6yrs, sgt) for the weekend, so that was a nice check. I made the most of my time in the service, but I sure as fuck was done with the green weenie once I was "done". To say I was annoyed to have to report to some cheesedick reserve pogue-ass unit is an understatement.

but instead of bitching, I made it into a good time...showed up a little high...in civilian clothes. called everyone dude and pogue. I'm sure auditing my SRB they were expecting a bit more polished, gungho guy...but they got me. so I generally made everyone uncomfortable enough so that they left me alone.

fuck the suck

[FORSAKENR320]

I don't how the reserves work, but the thing they kinda leave out when you enlist for 4 years, or even extend to say 5, is that you have an 8-yr total commitment.

so you serve 4 active, and then EAS (end of active service), at which point you are assigned to a unit in the IRR (inactive ready reserve) for an additional 4 years. serve 6 years, commit 2 more to IRR...etc.

so they can call you up if they need you. before the iraq war, however, it was VERY uncommon to activate an inactive person though.

the only time I dealt with it was while I was at tech. I got a letter stating I had to be in amarillo for some kind of service records update hooyah on a certain date. They said they would pay me my time and grade (6yrs, sgt) for the weekend, so that was a nice check. I made the most of my time in the service, but I sure as fuck was done with the green weenie once I was "done". To say I was annoyed to have to report to some cheesedick reserve pogue-ass unit is an understatement.

but instead of bitching, I made it into a good time...showed up a little high...in civilian clothes. called everyone dude and pogue. I'm sure auditing my SRB they were expecting a bit more polished, gungho guy...but they got me. so I generally made everyone uncomfortable enough so that they left me alone.

fuck the suck

old roommate kevin was a marine, had the same thing happen. he just showed up fat. like, went from 185lbs to 305lbs fat. they left him alone too

[Psykopath]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070327/ap_on_go_co/us_iraq

Breaking News:

Senate wants troops out of Iraq in 1 year.

WASHINGTON - Defying a veto threat, the Democratic-controlled Senate narrowly signaled support Tuesday for the withdrawal of U.S. combat troops from
Iraq by next March.

Thoughts?

[GOB]

i'm surprised they gave them an entire year

[The Fanatic]

haha, we created a situation we can not win and pulling out will only make the country worse when Iran fills the void that we leave behind. Yay!!!

[The Fanatic]

http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/meast/04/08/...main/index.html

[Mommy]

Seriously, get our troops out of there.

[Hartmann]

Seriously, get our troops out of there.

Should read: "Kill al-Sadr"

In all seriousness, we should have taken him out long ago.

[Mommy]

Its just to the point where it doesnt seem like there is very much forward progress